by Zana Sahyouni Europe is often thought of as a continent of wealth and prosperity, but the reality is that poverty is a significant problem in many European countries.  One in five Europeans experience at least one form of poverty, and research shows Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, and North Macedonia – four of the five European countries Islamic Relief works in – are among the poorest nations. One in four say they are in a precarious situation, and that one unexpected expense could push them into poverty. Winter’s plummeting temperatures only exacerbate the situation, making the struggle for survival more difficult.  The Perception of Poverty Poverty is often viewed as a…

by Zana Sahyouni For Islamic Relief USA, Martin Luther King Jr Day is a Day of Service – to mark the birthday of the activist and civil rights leader, we focus on engaging staff and volunteers to do service work. This “day on, not day off,” gives us an opportunity to reflect on the ongoing fight for racial equality and social justice, while also taking action to make a positive impact in our communities. This year, are commemorating the whole weekend with six major service events: at Masjid Hamza in Houston, TX,  we will package 1,000 food kits; at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA, 440 student volunteers and 70…

Islamic Relief USA hosted a Refugee and Recent Immigrant convening on Dec. 6-7, the first in-person meeting since 2019 on December 06-07. It brought  together 28 agencies that work with refugees and recent immigrants.  Some of the notable speakers from the event included IRUSA’s CEO Sharif Aly; US State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Program Office, Kiera Berdinner; Immigration and Criminal Defense Lawyer, Hassan Ahmad; and Director of Social Services at Dar Al-Hijrah Community Center, Stacey Picard.  The event began with Kiera Berdinner discussing the US Reception and Placement (R&P) assistance program. This program, managed by the US State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), provides…

Freezing temperatures hit homeless Pakistan flood survivors forgotten by the world. Infants and elderly at extreme risk from illness and cold Many homes and health centres still badly damaged and in urgent need of repair Funding running out as international appeal just 23% funded Snow is falling in parts of Pakistan and two months of freezing temperatures lie ahead for flood survivors who are still homeless and living in the open air, Islamic Relief is warning.   North-western parts of Balochistan province have received the first snowfall of the year and winter rains will start across the country in the next few weeks. Rural communities urgently need reconstruction of homes and…

By Dania Qureshi Growing up, I always saw Islamic Relief (IR) advertisements portraying war-torn countries and families yearning for help. I never really witnessed any calamities myself, but I always wanted to shelter these children and families so they could feel safe and worthy. Although, since I was still studying and had no steady income, I couldn’t help them this way— I could only volunteer and make small donations.  My father was looking for volunteer opportunities when I saw a flyer for the IRUSA Meal Pack event on Sunday, November 13 at Brighter Horizons Academy in Garland, Texas.  I felt the need to participate. My mother accompanied me to a…

IRUSA Wants you to Go Vote in Every Election A Town Hall Discussion By Christina Tobias-Nahi and Aseel Elborno  On October 30, 2022, Islamic Relief USA, in partnership with Poligon and MakeSpace, hosted a Midterms Get Out the Vote Town Hall as part of our Go Vote Advocacy Campaign (irusa.org/govote). The goal of the event was to create an inclusive, safe space for Muslim community members to address issues they care about and discuss their participation in this year’s election. We hoped to ensure that attendees are ready and have a plan to vote. The panel was moderated by Wardah Khalid, founder of Poligon Education Fund, a national civic education…

by Muhammad Niyaz Islamic Relief’s legacy in Pakistan dates back to 1992. Right now, we’re on the ground working to help survivors of the floods and ensure long-term support. Upwards of 550,000 people have been assisted with immediate needs including food, water, hygiene kits, emergency shelter, and cash assistance.  In October, I had the honor of going to Pakistan with Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) President, Anwar Khan, to assess the situation and provide immediate relief.  In Pakistan, we took a 35 minute boat ride to the village Fateh Khan Gadehi. The ride there was eerie – what was once agricultural land looked like miles and miles of lakes, with some…

By: Syed Hassan The Middle Eastern kingdom of Bahrain hosted its Dialogue Forum: East & West for Human Coexistence from November 2- 5 and Islamic Relief USA’s (IRUSA) Public Affairs and Research Advocacy (PARA) Department had a seat at the table. The meeting focused on the need to resist hate and bigotry between different faith groups, and to encourage empathy and inclusivity.  Christina Tobias-Nahi, director of PARA, participated in the forum, by virtue of her being part of the Interfaith G20 Advisory Board. The event was organized by the nation’s Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. Pope Francis was among the guests.  One of the goals of the forum is to…

This Sunday, October 16, 2022 is World Food Day, a day to promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from food insecurity. Across 150 countries worldwide, hundreds of events and outreach activities bring together governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations, the media, and the public with the common goal of leaving no one behind when it comes to food security and healthy diets for all.  In addition to reaching out to our community in digital spaces this World Food Day for food aid support, IRUSA is also hosting a Day of Dignity event in Southern California (look for live footage from the event on our social media). Along with food,…

by Zana Sahyouni Islamic Relief ramps up relief efforts after Hurricane Fiona devastates Puerto Rico On September 19, 2022, Hurricane Fiona made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane: four deaths so far, 3.2 million without power, more than 1 million left without running water, and over 32 inches of rainfall continue to cause flash flooding. Over 1,000 people have evacuated or been rescued across Puerto Rico as floodwaters continue to rise.  Hurricane Fiona hit just two days before the anniversary of Hurricane Maria which killed nearly 3,000 people and destroyed the power grid in 2017. Five years later, the island is once again in crisis. The economic impact on the…